davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08
The Texas ssighw0ymcn 1t 1t.

When the Texas train robber goes
into temporary retirement after the
successful collection sf tribute on
the iron highways, tho stage coach
robber then comes out and attends
to his little business on the turn
pixies. In this mornings paper will
be found the particulars of the plum
dering Of two stage coaches contain
ing an aggregate of seven male and
six female passengers, all by, one
man without resistance.
The moral Of this occurrence and
Of all the others Of the same sort
that have become so common in
Texas, is that the legislature of that
State lately enacted a prohibitory
law against pistols, consigning to
the penitentiary every person who
shall be found in the State possessed
of weapon Of defense, either car
ried On his person Or in his baggage.
The foolish law only disarms orderly
and law abiding people, while the
robbers the roughs and the rascals
generally, take advantage Of the
defcnseless condition of the rest of
the community to such an extent
that, since the people were disarmed,
murders, highway robberies and
other violent crimes have greatly
increased. The trouble with all
prohihitory laws, as with all other
laws, is that they are utterly disre-
garded by the worst classes of the
community, and are only executed
occasionally and spasmodicalIy by
the officials. If no more laws were
made for century to come, and a
few of the bsst which are now on
the statute books were thoroughly
and inv,ncibly enforced. the result
would be condition of order and
social virtue such az not all the acts
Of all the legislatures for thousand
years to come could bring to pass
Picayune, Oct. |.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08
Hold On to Your Cotton Seed.

There are already some very hap
py indications for cotton planters in
the anticipated fight this fall be-
tween the Houthern and the Amcri
can Oil Trust Companies. Indeed
the fight has already begun on the
railroads around Memphis where the
two companies have rival agents
and cotton seed houses. A Memphis
paper of current date states that a
large quantity of seed for the Mem
plis Oil Works was bought day
or two since at such q point above
Memphis tor $3.50 a ton; that the
price has been flactuating greatly
since the opening of the season,
having reached as low as $40 at one
time, but has been steadily rising
under the influence Of the competi-
ton reaching the elimination as
above. The planters are jubllant
over the prospect. No seed is yet
Offering at this market, but brokers'
confidently assert that there is going
to be lively fight between the mills
of the two rival companies. 1t is
pretty well understood, and is even
asserted by American Trust people,
that as the divers are going to lose
money, that the Trust company
stands prepared to do the same
thing. So we may look for big
prices for cotton this fall, compared
TO those forced last year through
the manipula.ions of the Trust.-N.
O. States.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08
Wanamakero on Advertising.

John Wauamaker. the great
Philadelphia millionaire merchant,
recently spoke as follows about ad-
vertising: a...
II never in my life. used such
thing as a poster, or dodger, Or
hand-bill. Ny plan for fifteen years
has been to buy so much space in a
newspaper and to fill it up with
what ! wanted. / would not give
an advertisement IN newspaper Of
400 circulation for 5000 dodgers or
posters. III wanted to sell cheap
jewelry or run a gambling scheme l
might use posters, | would not insult
a decent reading public with hand
bills. The class Of people who
read such things are poor material
to lock to for support in mercantile
affairs. l deal directly with the
publisher. say to him How long
will you let me run a column Of
matter through your paper for 500
Or $500, as the case may be. l let
him do the figuring, and if l think
he is not trying to take more than
his share | give him the copy. i
lay aside the profits on a particular
line ofgoods for advertising purpo.
ses. The first year ! laid aside
$4,000; last year | laid aside and
spent $4,000. l have done better
this year. and shall increase that
sum as the profits warrant it. l owe
my success to the newspapers, and
to them shall freely give a certain
profit Of my yearly business-Ex.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

Louisiana Democrat: When conn
try newspapers have to resor: to the
miserable cnt-throat policy recently
practiced by the Harrisonburg News
and Trinity Herald, to insure or Sc
cure success in business, it is about
time to quit the ''profesh," and we
believe every levelheaded country
editor will agree with US. To think
Of a newspaper paying s45 to do the
parish printing for . year is non
sense of the worst kind. Yes, we
10 need Press Association to pu,
down just such performances as this.
Legitimate journalism seems to be
lastly on the decline.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

n. o. Chronicles: You look in
vain in the newspapers Of this city
for advertisements of first-class ho
tells. The traveller is expected to
find their whereabouts by accident,
or from the obliging policemen on
our streets" That's true; we know
it to be a fact.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

Lake Charles Echo Twenty real
live men are worth more to a town
and the public generally than a
round thousand Of useless material
that lies around like rubbish, in a
rushing stream that is aching and
foaming to turn mills and factories.
Live men bless and dead men curse a
town, zM
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

Archbishop Walsh says the Irish
land question is a commercial and
not political matter. He declared
Lord Ashbournes purchase scheme
to be the most suitable one that has
vet been passed.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08
:=,,In,yERTISING RATES:

r,,nsient advertisements, Sl.oo per
IN .t'fI.s frst insertion. Each subseqent IN
.av.iol. Sri, so cents per inch. geo
:. a,us aaueunc. Ward offices. 800 in advance:
y pi,uath and marriage notices, when not
oysr y six lines, published free. pbltnarlcs; res
rssolutons OF respect, etc, ,stas Ml.s % cha's'o
10. o.a.;n,as d; nf a personal nature, when ad-
.inll,hls nii viii be charged double price.
hso'p ~ notice taken Of anonymous commu-
,;sat;nns In all eases we reGulrg the
Ur,, t,;ter's name and address. not necessarily
" m nuhIcation, but as Il guarantee OF
~ ,ma faith. We will undertake to preserve
ssrr s. rqi,rn Iar rejected manuscript. In no way
= III; live we be responsible for the views and
sn;n;ons of our correspondents.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

To response to Missouri inquirer
Mr.. Jefferson Davis wrote as follows
on prohibition as q local issue IF
local option means the right Of a
local community to decide whether
the will have bar-rooms and saloons
licensed to sell intoxicants, then |
should say, if thus limited, | should
be in favor of the exercise of the
power. 1t would be commended for
two reasons. l. The adoption Of
the rule would depend on the con-
sent Of the governed. 2. The rule
being supported by public opinion
could be peacefully and efficiently
executed. The measure would be
merely withholding the license to do
that which one has not an inaliena-
bic right to perform, would take no
ones property without just compen'
sation, and would not invade the
rights of any mans neighbor.'
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08
Don't You =:

When you want newspaper favors,
you strike your home paper, don't
you? If you want your town boom
cd and your property increased in
value, you expect your home paper
to do it, don't you? Yet you kick
because your home paper hasn't as
much reading matter in it as a city
paper, don't you? Still, on the
whole, you think your home paper
is mighty good thing for town.
don't you? And you preclude the
home paper from thinking the town
is good thing for it, by not giving
it sufficient patronage, don't you ?
You would not expect the home pa
per, circulating only hundreds, to
give you as much reading matter as
the city paper, circulating thou
sands. would you? You would not
expect the former to be as low as
the latter, would you? You fire.
quently sneak off to the city to get
your job york. to cave few cents,
don't you? Do you think that a
newspaper publisher can live on
wind r Do you think that he can
ever digest the consoIing fact that
his paper is good thing for the
town." when he receives nothing 10
return He can't do it, can he p
Trinity Herald.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

ru,.,aa At the Post Office, Abbeville, La.
''"'e, as second class matter.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-10-08

particle Of the Balm is applied into each nostril,
is agreeable to and is quickly absorbed, effect
usly cleansing the nasal passages Of catarrhal virus,
causing healthy secretions.
1t allays pain and inflammation, projects the mem
branal Innings OF the head from additional colds,
completely heals the cores and restores the sense
Of taste and smell. Beneficial results realized
by few applications.
thorough treatment uilL cure.
Price so cents at druggists by mail, registered,
90 cents Circulars sent free.
=. ELY BROTHERS, Druggists, Owego, u Y. .
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
MISTAKE OF ATHLETIC STUDENTS.

Professor F. V. Newman, the eminent English scientist, contributes sn account of his way of life, to the Herald of Health, as the request of it's editor. As Prof. Newman has passed his eightieth birth day, Rad is still hale and hearty, h!a example has some value
 !" Perhaps 1 ought not to conceal that am sadly out of harmony with the pre- valent doctrine of the day concerning hardihood.
 When was young man Ihad my own theories about bracing and harden ing my body; slept on a hard stran mattress; I generally scorned grca coat-at least a warm one. In Asiat.. travel had plenty of necessary hard ships. l slept with open windows in mos seasons; but travel brought me around to an opposite conviction.
 "At University College, London, found that thoycung men with open necks had no such immunity from cold and cough as l enjoyed through my wraps. Ore o! my greatest distresses there wes speak ing loud) against their coughs and nose blowing.
 Except in warm summer, I seldom rise early, because become cold in sit ting still, especially after the night has chilled the room.
 "Once only in seventeen years was absent from my lecture room in London through inability to use my voice; ;--an inabinty caused by struggling against the noises of coughs, etc. But my dear wife said that in more than fcrty years she had never known me to have cough yet at this moment am the weaker for having :oolishly 'roughed it years ago when, in the month ofSeptember, sudden cold came on after great heat and l had no winter flannels with me.
 "Lct me add that I hold to Cieero's advice, given to a student: Take exer- else, so much as is needful for health. but not 50 much as will conduce to the highest bodily strength
 "I have no doubt that hard, muscular work stupefles the brain. Ihave as much manly strength as my duties require. Not long back person standing Ut my side while spoke loud to large audience for an hour and quarter, told me that my last sentence was uttered as vigorously Q. my first, end that he had watched in vain to hear me falling.
 "Of course, in lifting weights. etc., I should not be called any thing but 8 weak man. What does 1t matter! Each has his own speciality. With no padding of fat, am glad of good, thick clothing and, in bed, of soft undercloth or feather bed. shun linen sheets and everything that Is glossy. preferring rough cotton.
 In short. try to nourish and cherish my skin, and find it succeeds"
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
HUNTING THE ,PosSUN.
New the xittle Animals are Captured Roe
 Very Good Eating.

was talking with Southern man about the opossum. The Southern man. . Georgian, by the way, said: ''The DOS. sum Is not what he's cracked up to Ie. ! used to hunt him years ago when was young. but l hunted him for the sport and not for himself
 "There is something very picturesque and piquAnt about a possum or a coon hunt < poSsum hunt differs from all other hunting In that a good 'possum hunter does not use his gun at all.
 "A pOssum or coon dog. & thin, nangy, cur-like dog, and big torch, arc all that he needs. The hunting is always at night. The dog finds tho 'possurn and trees hin-usually In a perslnmon tree. Then ths hunter cllmbs up torch in hand, and grabs the 'possurn.
 "Tbe light of the torch dazsles the eyes of the 'possupl. and his instlnctiSe stimulation of death makes, 1t easy 10 catch him. The hunter must take Uare that the 'pcssum does not fall to the ground. If it does there will be q hght-not between the dog and the 'p0ssum, but between tho dog and his master for possession of tie possum,
 My interest in the coon, however, ends when he is. caught. would as lieye as not that the dog nts him then. He looks too much Ike 8 rat for my stomach, and tastes too coarse and greasy squirrel Is much better"
 ''ThS poSSums seem as numerous es ever," said Virginian, ''and they seem to be hunted just as zeaiously. don't think they are particularly good eating The dSrkies like 'possum. just as they like .coarse, rich food of any scrt, But fl 'possum were not traditional dellcacy very few white men would eat It.
 'Of course you have heard the classic possum story which Is always told when 'possum Is mentioned? No?
 Well. an old darkey once caught Q 'possum one cold Thanksgiving Day, and taking 1t home to his cabin, built up tho fire and put 1t in the pot. Then hc laid down, tired out, with his feet 10 the fire, darkcy fashion, and went to sleep.
 As ho lay there snoring while the 'possum sinmered in the pot his son, Q Timber, bright-eyed youth, glided Into the cabin.s' He took in the situation in a moment. The 'possum was ready to be eaten, and it's strong aroma niied :he room,
 Stepping softly to the flre tho grace lees youth took tho 'possum out of the pot and rapidly devoured its gs,aey flesh, chuckling softly to himself as he did so. When he had eaten all there was t9 eat he gathered the bones in a little pile be- side ths freplace. and then slne.riag a little ot the 'possum grease on the mouth and nose of the sleeping man he stole softly out.
 By and by old Pompey awoke. The air was redolent of boiled 'possum-tht old man mouth watered. Rising slowly to his feet he took the lid 'o1 the pot and looked in. .Jerusha mighty!' he ex. claimed. its done gone
 Then. glancing down at the freplRee, he saw the whitened bones. snd paSsing his hand over. his mouth he felt ant smelled the 'possum grcass. 4 bco2t Good Lawdr he exclaimed, I done for got ate himr
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
2 GLxrsEs OF AFRICAN LITE.
Scenes Witnessed by Traveller in the
 Fall of 1888.

sesnes Witnessed by Traveller in the
 Fall of 1888.
 kr. v. Montagu Kerr read paper be- fore the Royal Geographical Society recently. giving fils experiences in "A Journey Overland from Cape Town across the Zzmbesi to Lake Eyassa."
 Among many other Interesting things. he told Of tho arrival of his party at the town of ChIbingG. on tlio banks of the Asinqua river.
 Two human skulls adorned either post of the entrance gate. Their reception was cold. Necessity compelled prolonged stay at that town, during which time Mir. Kerr wandered for many miles round, hnding alluvial gold in the sandy beds of the Msinqua and other tributaries of tho Mukumbura river.
 The men composing his party Inform cd him at this iuncture that they were tired and must now get back fo their wives; that they had wandered far from their homes and wished 10 retraee their steps. The natives of the town were of the Mtande tribe, and seemed to have largo numbers Of slaves purchased from Sanga, town On the northern banks of the ZanbeSI.
 A great feast was going on ct the town. His men all seemed beside them selves with joy at the thoughts of return ing home. Native beer. made from millet, flowed like water. Kud7 meat was in abundance.
 The open centre of the tIwn swarncd with human beings as black cs ebony, n turmoil of voices rent the air, the dUsky l1aidens danced and sang, keeping time Gs they stamped tho ground with either nd f,ll nth Tn waving lines in their snake-like dance The drums never ceased to beat for threo Gzys and three nights.
 h the day the feast continued, when the sun was at its greatest height, throw Ing down rays of fire upon the feetivc crowd. the fat, melting in tho glis:eaing locks of their woolly heads and running all over their bodies, seeming to give Seet to their movements.
 Come time afterwards the men whom ho had recruited deserted him. and left him entirely alone; but he was able after days had passed away to enlist ak men in his service, to whom, however, he was un- ableto speak. Atlength they reached the suburbs of the town Of the AnROni desp0t.
 Under most disadvantageous ciscum- stances he was brought before this man. whose name was Ic1IKu9o. R9o Wlo came down with numerous followers to the center of the town, where he (Ar. Kern was seated on a rock, 10 examine him. Tchlkuse seemed to scof at the deiected appearance presented sy the traveller.
 He was a young man of enorDsus dimensions, of light redd.sL-brown complexion, and rather vacant c')unten- ance and completely wrapped up In his own importance. Vanity beamed from every line of hts fat and sensual counten- Rnca.
 Mr. Kerr was led into small hut where dusky daughter of Africa. whom he Afterwards discovered to bo tho king Sister, used to come in tho night and si' beside him, and in whispering tones would talk by the hour, constantly .e- beating her brothers name. Tchikase, with awe. and shaking her head and drawing deep sighs. Not word of her talk ssvld he Understand. She never forgot to bring socle beer fpombel with her, the bulk of which she lmbibed her' self.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
Specimen Boston Boy.

"There's no use arresting boys" said ar officer yesterday. "They are rarely sentenced, most of the cases being p.icei on file. The boys know they won't be sentenced, and have the laugh on the officer. I took in & youngster the ether day, and as We were walking along he cried cut: Take your hand of mel
 ''I rAplied, You keep quiet, you young rascal y
 "'YOu don't dare swear at me- he exclaimed, or use any talk that ain't polite.
 Why not?' said I.
 elf you do, I'll go to the Board of Police and tell 'em, and then they'll take your buttons off.
 II couldn't say word; the boy knew too much. Boston Globe.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
The. Hast Slave in This Country.

The Thomasville (Ga.) Register Is au- thority for the statement that the last slave in this country was owned by q negro, Collins Aston. who years before the war became his own master. and by thrift saved enough to purchase Miliy Reynolds.
 During the war the woman physician piled her calling for the benefit of hei colored owner, and even after the end had come and the rest of her race were real!Y' inE the mixed joys and sorrows of freedom she continued the unwilling slave of her sable master.
 She remained in bondage for nearly g year after the emancipation, and then sht Sas only able to break the chains by aa cap;iny 3 refuge with white lady. now liYing in Thomnsville.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
Comfort for tho Smiths.

Virginia was founded by @ Smith Two of her Governors have been Smiths, and one of them was Governor twice.
 One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was Smith.
 There have been nine Smiths in the Senate Of the United States.
 4 Smith was the first Attorney General of the United States, then Secretary of the Navy, and sfterwards Secretary of State.
 Eight of the Confederate generals were Smiths.
 Smith is one of tho illustrious names In England, and Scotland furnished Adam Smith, the great political econo- mist. So there is TO discount on the Smiths.- Virginian.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
4 Full Line of FirSt-c!ass Stationery ans.
 Job Material

send axz Ss <1xxz- &~~sa~ ~% %szszyzsse END IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS AND PERSUADE YOUR NEI0Bo
 TO LIKEWISE.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
A Young telegraph Operator.

The youngest telegraph operator on the railroads in this section, cad probably in the Statc. Is little 0l:ey Mitchell opera tor at Eagle Rock, on tho j:H'lnond a2i Allcghaily Railroad. He is only 9 years of ofsSe.-fTiynehhIrg Eirginian.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
The DiHcr,c.n.,ce, i.

4 modern wit defines the difference between men and women thus ;--.;s4 zs9z1s
 A man gives forty cents for atwenty- five cent t'lilg he Eants. and Q woman gives tTenty-ftyo cents fer: . forty cent thsnS she does not Manttss : ss.... .,......s,>
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
Official County Paper

ApApEk DEVOTED r) THE DEVELOPMENT AND INTER- Esrs or TERRITORIAL INDUSTRIES. 4 PAPER FOR TIE PEOPLE AND ALWAYS WITH
 THE PEOPLE.
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
THE KNIon-s OF THs ROAD.

Oh, days of old! oh. Knights of oldi
 Oh, times of blood and thunder, Whom courage could beSeoined lIke gold And gold seemed coined for plGndsri
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
An Arab Horse Trade.

An Arab who wishes to sell @ horse will never consent to be the first to name a price. Some one comes up and says, "Soil. tIiou wilt gain"
 The Vender replies. Buy, thou wilt gain"
 Speak thou first" "NO, speak thou"
 "Was lie purchased. or rearedf"
 "Rcarcd in my tent. liko ono of my own children"
 "What hast thou been offered for hIm"
 "I have been offered l00 douros."
 "SeIl him to me st that priee-th0u wilt gain. Tell me then, what thou sskest."
 "See what Is written with Allah"
 "Come, let us drive away tho previous bidder, and do thou take ten douros over
The St. Johns herald., 1887-01-20
and shove h,s offer"

ana aDoTo hls OHcr.
 II accept. Take thy horse. and Allah, grant thou playst be successful urou his back as many times Gs he has hairs upon it.' Should the seller be desiro,is to Gvo.d all risk of future annoyance on tho sub feet of warranty, he adds, in the persence of witnesses:
 "The separation between us Is fro n this moment, Thou dost not know ne, and l have never seen thee. -lGilbeT. SaRe's "Reminiscences.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-10-15
BETTER THAN CORK.


Buoyoacy u Lleo.9aving Apparatus Mod0
Of Reindeer Hair.
A Norwegian engineer. Herr w. c.
Moller, OF Drammen, Norway, having
had his attention drawn to the extreme
buoyancy Of reindeer hair, has sue
ceeded in constructing various articles
Of this material for saving life ut sea,
with which some interesting expert
mcnts were recently made. The first
life-saving object tried was one which
can be used on board ship rs chair.
bedstead or couch, but which in case Of
need may be converted into . small
boat This apparatus was found capa-
bic Of supporting three full grown men
in the water. although only intended to
bear two. Another object tried was .
suit made entirely Of reindeer hair. and
covering the entire body except the
face. and in which man noated on the
water without having to make the
slightest movement II was found per-
fectlv impossible to dive in the dress.
The third object tried was door-mat
made Of reindecr-hair. and this sup
ported . man easily. although he was
dressed in full outdoor clothing. On
comparing life-belts made Of reindeer
hair with similar ones Of cork, it was
found that the former was much lighter
than the latter. . very important ad-
vantage to an exhausted drowning per-
son when he has to put 1t on in the
water. Herr Moller's assertion that
reindeer-hair il capable Of supporting
weight ten times its own was fully
borne out by these experiments. It
should be pointed out that jackets.
belts. ETC.. made of reindeer-hair are
soft and pliable. and that they impart
. rood deal of warmth.-L0N60w ls0A